Acupuncture: An Antidote to Allergies

Allergies refer to the response of your immune system to a foreign substance, like pollen, bee venom, or any food item. Here are a few facts about allergies and the benefits of acupuncture in treating allergies.

Allergies: Symptoms

When you have allergies, your immune system will produce antibodies that recognize a particular allergen as harmful, even though it is not. The immune response can inflame your sinuses, skin, knee joint, digestive system, or airways. The severity of allergies can differ from person to person, which range from minor irritation to anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening emergency. The symptoms of anaphylaxis are a lowered blood pressure, wheezing, a swollen throat or other areas of the body. You should seek medical attention immediately if you experience any symptoms of anaphylaxis. Allergic rhinitis causes sneezing, itching of the nose, eyes, runny and stuffy nose, and watery eyes. A food allergy can result in tingling in the mouth, swelling of lips. Drug allergy causes itchy skin and rashes. You need to avail of emergency medical help if there is a severe anaphylactic reaction.

Causes of Allergies

An allergy occurs when your immune system mistakenly considers a normally harmless substance as a dangerous invader. As a part of the response, the body produces antibodies that will alert for that particular antigen. When the subsequent exposure happens, these antibodies stimulate the immune system to release chemicals such as histamine. Common allergy triggers include airborne allergens, certain foods, medications, etc. The risk factors include a family history of allergies, asthma, high stress, insufficient sleep, leaky gut, IBS, colitis, alcohol, too much spicy food, smoking, sinusitis and chronic infections.

Acupuncture: Ancient Chinese Medicine, holistic way to treat allergies

The acupuncture is based on the principle that qi, the universal energy, is responsible for the mental and physical health of the body. An experienced acupuncturist punctures the body with thin solid stainless steel needles and then activates them through specific movements. Through the stimulation, the body regains its balance in qi flow and results in healing. There are more than 400 acupuncture points connected by meridians. Each meridian is associated with a system of the body. When the energy flow is blocked in a certain system, the illness will occur. Allergies are associated with the imbalance of the immune and nervous system.

Allergies and Acupuncture

Feng, S.Y. et al indicated a significant reduction in nasal congestion, running nose, nasal itching and sneezing when compared with a control group based on thirteen randomized controlled studies, as published in American J. of Rhinology and Allergy. A quick response is reported by the patients to the treatment of acupuncture in allergies. When acupuncture is used for allergies, several meridians like lung, large intestine, stomach, and spleen are targeted. These meridians circulate a defensive qi, which balances the immunity. The idea is that the stimulation of these meridians will restore defensive qi and balance the Yin and Yang in the immune system, thus inhibiting the overactive immune system to bring it into the normal state. During the pandemic, it is even more important to balance our immune system, so we can avoid cytokine storm if we are exposed to Covid-19.

Acupuncture aims at the holistic healing of the human body. Get an expert opinion on the benefits of acupuncture in allergies. Feel the change when you can breathe in more oxygen.